Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsatenz’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsatenz’ characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; large dark pink-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ZALSATENZ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida,commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Zalsatenz’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new cut flower Alstroemeria plantswith desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive and unique flowercoloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in May, 2008 of aproprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number52856-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryAlstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 74609-1, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in June, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by rhizome divisionsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlandssince September, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this newAlstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. Thefollowing traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to bethe unique characteristics of ‘Zalsatenz’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Zalsatenz’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeriaplant:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Large dark pink-colored flowers.    -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants ofthe female parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of thefemale parent selection have lighter pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants ofthe male parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of themale parent selection have yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of Alstroemeriahybrida ‘Zalsalyn’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,308. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands,plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily from plants of‘Zalsalyn’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were shorter than plants of        ‘Zalsalyn’.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had taller inflorescences than        plants of ‘Zalsalyn’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Alstroemeria were darker pink in        color than flowers of plants of ‘Zalsalyn’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph comprises a close-up view of a typical flowering stem of‘Zalsatenz’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during thespring and summer in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse inRijsenhout, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C., night temperatures rangedfrom 10° C. to 15° C., soil temperatures averaged 14° C. and lightlevels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants were one year old when the photographand description were taken. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Zalsatenz’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida            selection identified as code number 52856-1, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida            selection identified as code number 74609-1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—In vitro rhizogenesis.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days            at temperatures of 16° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 60 days            at temperatures of 16° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; color, close to            155D.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.        -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to            30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth.            Color: Close to 155D.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy            appearance; vigorous growth habit; rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 120 cm to 140 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm.-   Flowering stem description:    -   -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Length.—About 102 cm to 122 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 7 mm to 11 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 5 cm to 10 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 146B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Appearance.—Leaves asymmetrical, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 14.3 cm to 19 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.7 cm to 4.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:            Close to N137A; venation, close to 144B. Developing and            fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to N137D;            venation, close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in            compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly; perianth            segments separate; freely flowering habit, about 25 to 45            flower buds and open flowers developing per flowering stem.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the            spring and early summer in The Netherlands; plants begin            flowering about 80 to 90 days after planting.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity.—About four weeks on the plant and about 20            to 25 days as a cut flower; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 5.5 cm to 6 cm.            Diameter: About 1.5 cm to 1.8 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid.            Color: Close to 64B.        -   Umbel height.—About 17 cm to 19 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 21.5 cm to 23.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 7.5 cm to 8 cm.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each            whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Inner            perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 7.2 cm to 8 cm.            Width: About 2.2 cm to 2.4 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex:            Cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Shallowly serrate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Towards the            apex, close to 58B; center, close to 12C; towards the base,            close to 58D. Color, when opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Towards the apex, close to 58B; center, close to            12C and 58B; towards the base, close to 58D. Inner perianth,            median segment: Length: About 6.2 cm to 7.2 cm. Width: About            2.3 cm to 2.6 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Cuspidate.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Shallowly serrate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 58B. Color, when            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 58B to            58C. Outer perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 6.7 cm            to 7.4 cm. Width: About 3.8 cm to 4.2 cm. Shape: Obovate.            Apex: Embedded point. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Shallowly            serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, when opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 58B. Color, when opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 58B. Outer perianth, median segment:            Length: About 6.5 cm to 7.6 cm. Width: About 3.8 cm to            4.3 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Embedded point. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Shallowly serrate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 58B. Color, when            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 58B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 10 cm. Diameter: About 2            mm to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 10° to 25° from            vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 137B and 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length: About 9 mm to 10 mm.            Anther color: Close to 59A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 200C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Style length: About 3.5 cm to 4 cm. Style color: Close to            64A. Stigma color: Close to 64A. Ovary color: Close to 146C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Alstroemeria plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about −5° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named‘Zalsatenz’ as illustrated and described.